Postcards from Stratham
Postcards from Stratham
Does this old trail look at all familiar? No, it’s not the Native American shortcut to the Beach Plum, though you have the direction right. If you are a Stratham resident commuting to Portsmouth, you may be traveling past this fine old homegrown ski slope on the west side of Stratham Hill as often as twice a day. The slope still gets light use from parents with their young children on sleds and other sliding devices during the winter months.
Just as we were about to draft this month’s “Postcard from Stratham”, we received a fabulous vignette from Dr. Bradley Corbin who lived in Stratham through his Exeter High School graduation. Dr. Corbin’s mother, Elizabeth Jean (Stockbridge) Corbin was a descended from a prominent Stratham family whose roots can be traced back to the 18th century along Bunker Hill Avenue. While raising six children, mom became Stratham’s first female select board member in 1973. Dr. Corbin spent time in family homes on Portsmouth Avenue, Winnicutt Road and Jack Rabbit Lane. His story titled “The Ghost Bus” was so personal, so endearing and so Stratham, we dared not make you wait to share it in its entirety.
The Ghost Bus
Nestled amidst the trees on the western slope of Stratham Hill in Stratham, New Hampshire, sits an old, rusty school bus. But this isn’t just any bus – it’s the legendary Ghost Bus. Now, you might wonder how a yellow school bus ended up in such an unexpected spot. Well, let me take you back to the early 1960s, when my dad, Bob Corbin, his brother Russ, and their buddy Dave Noyes had a wild idea.
Picture this: Stratham, a quaint town with roots dating back centuries, was bustling with about 1500 souls. From its earliest settlers to the farmers selling their produce by the side of the road and dairy cows meandering in the fields every summer, Stratham is steeped in history. And these fellas, being the adventurous sorts, decided the town needed its very own ski area. Oh, but not just any ski area – a cozy little spot perfect for beginners and families. So, armed with determination and probably a few too many beers, they set their plan in motion.
With the town’s blessing (and maybe a bit of persuasion), they cleared a swath of land on Stratham Hill, just a stone’s throw from the University of New Hampshire. Trees were felled, the ground was prepped, and voilà – a ski slope was born. Now, it wasn’t Mount Everest by any means, but with a modest 100 feet of vertical drop, it was just right for folks looking to carve some turns close to home.
But here’s where the Ghost Bus comes in. To get folks up that hill, they needed a lift – and what better way than with an old school bus? So, they hauled that bus up the slope, stripped it down, and transformed it into a makeshift rope tow. It was a sight to behold – the engine rumbling, the drum spinning, and skiers hanging on for dear life as they were whisked to the top.
And let me tell you, learning to grab onto that rope was no easy feat. I remember spending hours at the bottom, helping folks get the hang of it. It was like a delicate dance – balancing on skis, reaching for the rope, and hoping you didn’t end up in a tangled mess.
But safety was always top priority. They rigged up this clever system with an electrical cord that would cut power to the bus if anyone got too close to the spinning drum. It was a bit of genius born out of necessity – ensuring that no one left the slopes missing any limbs!
So, there you have it – the tale of the Ghost Bus. A story of adventure, ingenuity, and a little bit of New Hampshire magic. And if you ever find yourself on Stratham Hill, keep an eye out for that old yellow bus. Who knows, you might just catch a glimpse of the spirits of winter’s past, still riding the slopes in the ghostly glow of moonlight.
Dr. Bradley Corbin
Special thanks to Dr. Corbin for sharing this wonderful and historic recollection with us and now with all of you. Dr. Corbin has been living in Reno Nevada for the past 43 years. He asserts that no matter how far he and his brothers roam, they all still consider Stratham as home.
Adding a little to the Ghost Bus story from comments left on a site about New Hampshire’s Lost Ski Areas, Peter Sawyer wrote that the single ski trail with a rope tow operated from 1962-1968. Peter Brewitt, who was a member of the volunteer Ski Patrol at Stratham Hill, offered some further detail about the bus. “This was a bizarre situation. The bus was located at the top of the tow line; it was leveled out on blocks facing up hill. The rear tires were removed, and the haul rope was wrapped around the bare rim on the left side. The “lift operator” sat in the driver’s seat of the bus, with the rear emergency door open. He watched the tow line by looking up at the big rear view mirror, watching out the back door. When the load on the tow changed, he would up-shift or down-shift as required to keep folks moving up the hill. What great times we had.”
The abandoned bus sat in the woods next to the ski slope for many years until it “somehow ended up toward the bottom of the hill” according to a 1999 article in Seacoast Newspapers. The skeletal bus gained a reputation as being haunted. In order to earn his Eagle Scout designation, Troop 185 Boy Scout Matthew Ryan organized an effort to deconstruct and remove the Ghost Bus. It took 2 days, 24 saw blades and Marty Wool’s Salvage Yard truck to begin to return the site to nature.
Postcards from Stratham are brought to you by the Stratham Historical Society. The Stratham Historical Society Museum & Library is now open on Tuesdays from 9 am to 11:30 am or by appointment. We hope to expand our open hours in the coming months. Anyone with an interest in Stratham and local history is invited to stop by, become a member, donate or volunteer. We are actively seeking to expand membership and identify those with an interest in volunteering time to advance and share their learning of Stratham history. We can best be contacted by emailing info@strathamhistsoc.org or by telephone at 603-778-0434.